Naqvi for consensus among political parties, EC and intellectuals for simultaneous election

Patna, Sep 9: Union Minority Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today called upon all political parties, Election Commission and intellectuals to evolve a consensus for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and various assemblies. Pushing for 'one nation, one election' during a Parliamentarian Conclave being attended by representatives of various parties, administrative officers, journalists and other intellectuals, Mr Naqvi said India was among the largest democracies in the world with election being held in one state or another every 5 or 6 months and the development process was being disrupted in the process. Mr Naqvi said development work had come to standstill at different stages in states due to imposition of model code of conduct following announcements of elections to their assemblies during a period of 5 years. He said, it also put additional burden on pubic exchequer and according to an estimate, nearly 30 to 40 per cent of development work dragged for a very long period in such a situation. UNI